IPFire vs OPNsense

Struggling to choose between IPFire and OPNsense? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

IPFire is a Network & Admin solution with tags like opensource, linux, firewall, security.

It boasts features such as Stateful packet inspection firewall, Intrusion prevention system, VPN capabilities, Traffic shaping and quotas, Web proxy and content filtering, Modular architecture, Web-based admin interface and pros including Open source and free, Easy to install and configure, Good performance, Extensive features for a free product, Active development community, Supports many hardware platforms.

On the other hand, OPNsense is a Network & Admin product tagged with open-source, firewall, routing, freebsd, packet-filtering, traffic-shaping, vpn, intrusion-detection, intrusion-prevention, centralized-logging, reporting.

Its standout features include Stateful packet filtering firewall, Traffic shaping and QoS, VPN capabilities (IPsec, OpenVPN, L2TP), Intrusion detection and prevention, Centralized logging and reporting, Web interface for configuration and management, Plugin architecture for extensibility, High availability with CARP protocol, Captive portal for guest networks, Traffic analysis and monitoring, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Regular updates and security fixes, Extensive documentation and community support, Highly customizable via plugins, Supports latest network standards and protocols, Performs well even on low-end hardware.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

IPFire

IPFire

IPFire is an open-source firewall distribution based on Linux. It focuses on easy setup, good hardware support, and high flexibility. IPFire uses stateful packet inspection for network filtering and aims to provide high security while maintaining performance.

Categories:
opensource linux firewall security

IPFire Features

  1. Stateful packet inspection firewall
  2. Intrusion prevention system
  3. VPN capabilities
  4. Traffic shaping and quotas
  5. Web proxy and content filtering
  6. Modular architecture
  7. Web-based admin interface

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free

Easy to install and configure

Good performance

Extensive features for a free product

Active development community

Supports many hardware platforms

Cons

Limited documentation/support compared to commercial products

Less flexible than enterprise firewalls

Lacks some advanced enterprise features

Web interface can be clunky at times


OPNsense

OPNsense

OPNsense is an open source firewall and routing software based on FreeBSD. It features a stateful packet filtering firewall, traffic shaping, VPN capabilities, intrusion detection and prevention, and centralized logging and reporting.

Categories:
open-source firewall routing freebsd packet-filtering traffic-shaping vpn intrusion-detection intrusion-prevention centralized-logging reporting

OPNsense Features

  1. Stateful packet filtering firewall
  2. Traffic shaping and QoS
  3. VPN capabilities (IPsec, OpenVPN, L2TP)
  4. Intrusion detection and prevention
  5. Centralized logging and reporting
  6. Web interface for configuration and management
  7. Plugin architecture for extensibility
  8. High availability with CARP protocol
  9. Captive portal for guest networks
  10. Traffic analysis and monitoring

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Regular updates and security fixes

Extensive documentation and community support

Highly customizable via plugins

Supports latest network standards and protocols

Performs well even on low-end hardware

Cons

Steeper learning curve than commercial solutions

Lacks some features found in proprietary alternatives

Requires more hands-on management than UTM appliances

Plugin quality can vary